Method of and means for filling and packing containers



April 13, 1954 F. B. FISHBURNE METHOD OF AND MEANS FOR FILLING AND PACKING CONTAINERS Filed Aug. 5, 1951 FIG. I.

1N VEN TOR Francis '8. Fishburne ATTOR NEYS Patented Apr. 13, 1954 METHOD OF AND MEANS FOR FILLING AND PACKING CONTAINERS Francis B. Fishburne, Asheville, N. 0. Application August 3, 1951, Serial No. 240,222

1 14 Claims.

This invention relates to a method of and apparatus for filling and packing containers with loose, compressible material, and more particularly fonfilling and packing hogsheads with tobacco' f The present invention involves a number of features disclosed in prior Patent No. 2,596,018, dated May 6, 1952, issued to Fishburne, Hinnant and Ricks and in certain respects may be regar'ddas a further development of parts of the invention set forth in said patent.

As in said patent, the present invention contemplates the use of a pair of horizontally spaced chutes each arranged to deliver into a hogshead, and a reversible, endless conveyor extending betweensaidchutes and serving to selectively feed the material into them, as desired. While, however, in said prior arrangement it was proposed to move each of the hogsheads, after it had been filled, into a position beneath a press, so that the contents could be compressed, in the present invention I provide two presses, one associated with each chute and hogshead, so that the contents are compressed while the hogshead remains in the same position which it occupied while being filled. Thus the necessity for moving the hogshead is avoided. While in its broader aspects, the invention is by no means limited to any specific mechanical arrangement, I preferably achieve this result by moving the chutes them-- selves, that is to say, I shift each chute alternately from a' position over the hogshead and directly beneath the press to a position at one side of the press, so that the press plunger may freely descend into the hogshead. q p An object 'of the'present invention is, therefore, 'toprovide an improved method and apparatus for alternately filling a pair of containers with:looser-compressible material and pressing such material in each container while the latter .remainsiir-its original position. Another object is to devise an improvedhydraulic system for selectively operatingthe presses and shifting the chutes.

- A more specific object is to design a hydraulic systemof this kind in which means are provided for positively preventing a press plunger from moving downward so longas the associated chute in hogshead-filling position beneath the same. .In order that the invention may be readily understood, reference is had to the accompanying drawing'fforming part of this specification, and in which:

I Fig. its a diagrammatic view of my complete hydraulic system, and

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section on an enlarged scale through one of the four-way valves which I employ.

Referring to the drawing in detail, I employ a pair of vertically disposed hydraulic press cylinders I and l spaced a suitable fined distance apart, in which operate piston rods 2 and 2' carrying at their lower ends pistons or plungers 3 and 3'. These are adapted to enter chargers i and l mounted immediately above hogsheads 5 and 5 supported on dollies 6 and 5 directly beneath the respective plungers. The chargers 4 and 4 are shown as of unusually great height since I contemplate preferably, employing chargers capable of containing sumcient tobacco to fill the hogshead, and compressing the material in the hogshead at a single stroke, the press cylinders being long enough to accomplish this.

The supporting dollies '5 may be of the kind shown in the above mentioned patent. Suitable means for sustaining the pressure of the presses independently of the dolly wheels are preferably employed, as illustrated, for example, in Patent No. 1,738,326, to Smith.

Associated with the presses and hcgsheads are a pair of hoppers l and 1, having at their lower ends delivery chutes 8 and 8. These hoppers and chutes are mounted on a suitable supporting framework (not shown) for horizontal reciproeating movement and are each capable of occupying either one of two positions, namely, a position in which the chute is directly over the charger so as to deliver material into the same, and a second position in which the chute is shifted laterally so that it no longer overhangs the charger and is out of the path of movement of the associated press plunger.

The chute 8 is shifted horizontally byjmeans of a piston rod 9 working in a cylinder it, and the chute 8 is shifted by means of a piston rod S'working in a cylinder l0.

Mounted on a fixed support such as 13 is an endless conveyor H extending around pulleys l2 and [2 at opposite ends thereof and so posh tioned relative to the hoppers l and l as to "feed material into them when the hoppers are in the delivery position. l

The endless conveyor H is reversible, as described in the above mentioned prior patent, and the material is led onto the conveyor i l. by means of a second conveyor HS disposed at right angles thereto at a point near the middle thereof, Thus the materialfed by the conveyor Hi is selectively deposited in either of the hoppers l and l as desired, in accordance with the direction of movement of the conveyor II.

The hoppers and l and their associated chutes are spaced apart horizontally a distance which is substantial, but which must be less than the distance between the press cylinders i and l.

The chutes 8 8 are preferably of the type shown and described in said prior patent, and are adapted to be rotated about their vertical axes by means of suitable motors (not shown), but the present invention is not necessarily limited to the use of rotary chutes of this nature.

i designates a tank partlyiilled with a suitable liquid such as oil, and on the top of this tank is mounted a motor it directly connected at its opposite ends with two rotary pumps ii and 18. The pump l1 supplies motive fluid for shifting the chutes while the pump 58 supplies motive fluid for operating the presses. From the two pumps extend intake pipes 43 and 43' down into the tank.

From the pump ll extends a delivery pipe it to a manually operated four-way valve 20. From this valve extends a pipe 22 which is con nected with a pipe 23 delivering into the inner end of cylinder iii, and with a pipe is delivering into the outer end of cylinder iii. Pipes 25 and 26 connecting with the other ends of these cylinders extend to the valve 20, and from this valve extends a pipe 21 to a common discharge pipe 28, which is connected with the tank l5 by means of a return pipe 29.

The details of construction of the four-way valve 20 are shown in Fig. 2. This valve comprises a cylindrical casing 36 in which reciprocates a piston 3i, and the casing is provided with opposed radial ports having sockets 33, 3t, and 36 into which the various pipes are connected. An operating rod or shaft 31 is connected with the piston 3i and an operating handle 38 pivoted at 35% to a fixed bracket 4% is connected with the rod 3! by means of a pin-andslot connection Ill, 42.

The piston 3| is provided with a pair of transverse ports 2| and 2!. as shown in dotted lines and with a pair of diagonally extending grooves or passages 32 and 3 2'. The transverse ports and diagonally extending passages have their ends located at the same distance apart, longitudinally of the piston 3! so that either pair of ports and passages may be brought into registry with the ports communicating with the sockets 33, 3 3, 35 and 36 by shifting the piston 3i longitudinally of the casing 30.

In Fig. 1 the valve 20 is shown in such position that the transversely extending ports 2i and 2! register with the pipe sockets. When in this position, it will be seen that motive fluid under pressure fiows through the pipe l9, thence through the port 2| to pipe 22 whence it passes by pipes 23 and 24 into the inner and outer ends respectively of the cylinders it and it. This has the effect of simultaneously shifting both hoppers and chutes into the position shown in Fig. 1 in which the hopper i and chute 8 are in their retracted position, clear of the piston 3, while the hopper l" and chute 8' are in their operative or delivery position over the charger d and immediately beneath the plunger 3'.

For controlling the two presses I employ two additional four-way valves 20' and 20", similar to the valve is shown in Fig. 2.

A pipe 44 extends from the pump is up to a cross pipe 45 which communicates with the two valves 20 and 29" through check valves liiand 46. From the valve 20 extends a pipe 5| to the upper end of press cylinder I, and also a pipe it to the lower end of this cylinder. Interposed in this pipe near the valve is a relief valve 41 which is connected by a branch pipe 58 with the discharge pipe 28. The operating rod 31 of this four-way valve is pivotally connected to one arm of a bell crank 57, the other arm of which is connected by a link 56- with a lever 54 pivotally .mounted at 55 to a fixed support carrying at its opposite end a roller 53. This roller is adapted to engage and travel along a cam track 52 secured to the piston rod 9 or hopper 1.

The valve 20" is shown in such a' position that the transverse ports 2| and 2| register with the respective pipes so that motive fluid is admitted through pipe 5| to the top of the cylinder I while the lower end of the cylinder is ex hausted through pipe 49, relief valve 41 and pipe 48 to discharge pipe 28. Thus the piston 3 descends and enters the charger 4 and compresses the material therein.

At the left hand side of Fig. 1 the parts associated with the valve 20 and the cylinder 1' have been given the same numbers, primed, as the corresponding parts just described in connection with the valve 20" and cylinder I. In both pipes it and 49, globe valves 50 and 50 are preferably inserted so as to prevent discharge from the lower ends of the cylinders I and i and maintain the plungers in raised position when desired.

As distinguished from the valve 20", however, the valve 20' is shown as in such position that the diagonal ports or passages 32 and 32 register with the several pipes, and in this position motive fluid from the pipe 45 passes through pipe 49 to the lower end of cylinder I and moves the piston to its uppermost position as shown. The piston 3 is of course moved to this position before the hopper 'l' and chute 8 are shifted into the position shown in Fig. 1.

It will now be particularly noted that when the hopper l and chute 8 have been shifted to this position the cam track 52' overlies and bears upon the roller 53 thus locking the valve 20' in the position shown. In other words, while the hopper and chute are in such position beneath the plunger 3', it is impossible for the operator to shift the valve 20' out of the position indicated, since the valve is held in this position by means of the cam track and interconnected link and lever mechanism described. Thus, there is no danger of the operator crushing or damaging the apparatus by inadvertently moving the valve 2! into a position to cause the plunger 3' to descend while the hopper and chute lie, in the path of movement of the plunger. It is necessary to retract the hopper and chute into a position out of the path of movement of the plunger before the cam track will permit the valve 20' to be moved into a position to cause the plunger to descend. This interlock is a safety feature. which is of the greatest practical importance.

It will be understood that the cam track 52 and the link and lever mechanism connected with the valve 20" operate in the same manner as just described in connection with cam track 52.

In practice, the two delivery chutes willrbe shifted alternately to the right and to the left so as to deliver material successively into chargers placed beneath the respective presses, one chute delivering material into one charger while the press is compressing material charger. L

It will, of course, be understood that suitable means are provided defining the filling and pressln station to which each dolly carrying the hogshead and charger is moved, so that the latter are correctly centered with respect to the plungers. This may be done, for example, by forming marks, grooves or projections on the floor, to indicate the proper position of the dollies.

In conclusion, it will be seen that, while the presses are controlled by manually operated valves, as desired, means are provided for positively preventing the plunger of either press moving downwardly so long as the delivery chute is beneath it, thus safeguarding the apparatus from possible accident.

While I have shown and described the invention as comprising a pair of delivery chutes and a pair of plungers, it is obvious that the interlocking feature is also applicable to an arrangement having only a single chute and plunger.

What I claim is:

1. The method or filling and packing containers with loose, compressible material which comprises positioning a pair of containers at horizontally separated points, delivering a continuous stream of material to a fixed point above and between said containers, directing such stream alternately first into one container until filled, and then into the other, and pressing the material accumulated in each container while it is in its original position and during the interval in which material is being delivered into the other.

2. Apparatus for filling containers with loose, compressible material, comprising means defining a pair of horizontally spaced filling and pressing stations at which stations the containers to be filled are positioned, a charger immediately above each container, a pair of delivery chutes each arranged to deliver into one of said chargers, a substantially horizontal, reversible endless conveyer extending between said chutes, a second in the other conveyer arranged to feed material onto said reversible conveyer at a point substantially midway of its length, whereby said reversible conveyer may deliver such material selectively into either of said chutes, and power means operating to compress the material deposited by said chutes in said respective containers while the containers remain in the same position which they occupied when being filled.

3. Apparatus for filling containers with loose, compressible material, comprising a pair of vertically operating press plungers supported at an elevated point in horizontally spaced, fixed position, means defining a filling and pressing station directly beneath each plunger, at which stations the containers to be filled are positioned, a charger immediately above each container and co-axial with one of said plungers, a pair of delivery chutes each constructed to deliver into one of said chargers, and means for feeding material selectively into either of said chutes, said last mentioned means includin a substantially horizontal, reversible endless conveyer located above said chutes and extending between the same.

4. Apparatus for filling a pair of horizontally spaced containers comprising a pair of delivery chutes disposed above the containers, a horizontal, reversible conveyer extending above and between said chutes for feeding material alternately into the same, a pair of vertically operating press plungers adapted to compress material in said containers and means for simultaneously shifting said chutes horizontally relative to said conveyer and press plungers into two alternate positions in which one chute lies immediately over the associated container, and the other chute is disposed laterally of its associated container out of the path of the corresponding plunger.

5. Apparatus for filling containers with loose, compressible material, comprising a pair of vertically operating press plungers supported at an elevated point in horizontally spaced, fixed positions, means defining a filling and pressing station directly beneath each plunger, at which stations the containers to be filled are positioned, a pair of delivery chutes disposed in a horizontal plane below said plungers when in their uppermost position, and spaced apart a distance less than that of said plungers, means for selectively feeding material into either of said chutes, as desired, and means for simultaneously shifting said chutes horizontally into two alternate positions in which one chute lies at a point beneath one plunger and over the associated container, so as to deliver into the latter, while the other chute is disposed laterally out of the path of movement of the other plunger, so that the latter may descend.

6. Apparatus for filling containers with loose, compressible material, comprising a pair of vertically operating press plunger-s supported at an elevated point, in horizontally spaced, fixed positions, means defining a filling and pressing station directly beneath each plunger, at which stations the containers to be filled are positioned, a pair of delivery chutes disposed in a horizontal plane below said plungers when in their uppermost position, and spaced apart a distance less than that of said plungers, a substantially horizontal, reversible, endless conveyor located above said chutes and servin to feed material selectively into them, and means for simultaneously shifting said chutes horizontally into two alternate positions in which one chute lies at a point beneath one plunger and over the associated container, so as to deliver into the latter, while the other chute is disposed laterally out of the path of movement of the other plunger, so that the latter may descend.

'7. Apparatus for filling containers with loose compressible material comp i g a vertically operatin press plunger sup-ported at an elevated fixed point, means defining a filling and pressing station directly beneath said plunger, at which station the containers to be filled are positioned, a delivery chute disposed below the uppermost position of said plunger, means for feeding material into said chute, means for shiftin said chute horizontally into two alternate positions, in one of which the chute lies at a point beneath said plunger and over the container, so as to de liver into the latter, and in the other of Which it is disposed laterally out of the path of movement of said plunger, so that the latter may descend to compress the material, and means for preventing said plunger from operating while the chute is positioned beneath it.

8. Apparatus for filling containers with loose compressible material comprising a vertically operating press plunger supported at an elevated fixed point, means defining a filling and. pressing station directly beneath said plunger, :at which station the containers to be filled are positioned, a delivery chute disposed below the uppermost position of .said plunger, means for feeding ma- 7 terial into said chute, means for shifting said chute horizontally into two alternate positions, in one of which the chute lies at a point beneath said plunger and over the container, so as to deliver into the latter, and in the other of which it is disposed laterally out of the path of movement of said plunger, so that the latter may descend to compress the material, and interlocking means controlled by the position of the chute for automatically preventing said plunger from operating while the chute is positioned beneath it.

9. Apparatus for filling containers with loose, compressible material, comprising a pair of horizontally spaced, vertically operating press plungers supported at an elevated point and each adapted to'compress material in a container positioned directly beneath it, a pair of delivery chutes disposed in a horizontal plane below said plungers when in their uppermost position, and spaced apart a distance less than that of said plungers, for simultaneously shifting said chutes horizontally into two alternate positions in which one chute lies at a point beneath one plunger and over the associated container, so as to deliver into the latter, while the other chute is disposed laterally out or" the path of movement of the other plunger, so that the latter may descend, and means for preventing each plunger from moving downwardly while the corresponding chute is positioned beneath it.

10. Apparatus for fillin containers wtih loose, compressible material, comprising a pair of vertically operating press plungers supported at an elevated point in horizontally spaced, fixed positions, means defining a filling and pressing station directly beneath each plunger, at which stations the containers to be filled are positioned, a pair or delivery chutes disposed in a horizontal plane below said plungers when in their uppermost position, and spaced apart a distance less than that or" said plungers, means for simul taneously shifting said chutes horizontally into two alternate positions in which one chute lies at a point beneath one plunger and over the associated container, so as to deliver into th latter, while the other chute is disposed laterally out of the path of movement of the other plunger, so that the latter may descend, and means for automatically insuring that neither chute lies in the path of movement or the associated plunger when the latter descends.

11. Apparatus for filling containers with loose, compressible material, comprising a pair of vertically operating press plungers supported at an elevated point in horizontally spaced, fixed positions, means defining a filling and pressing station directly beneath each plunger, at which stations the containers to be filled are positioned, a pair of delivery chutes disposed in a horizontal plane below said plungers when in their uppermost position, and spaced apart a distance less than that of said plungers, means for simultaneously shifting said chutes horizontally into two alternate positions in which one chute lies at a point beneath one plunger and over the associated container, so to deliver into the latter, while the other chute disposed laterally out of the path of movement of the other plunger, so that the latter may descend, and interlocking means for automatically preventing each plunger from operating while the corresponding chute is positioned beneath it.

12. Apparatus for filling containers with loose, compressible material, comprising a pair of vertically disposed hydraulic presses supported at an elevatedL point in horizontally spaced, fixed positions and each having a plunger, means defining a. filling and pressing station directly beneath each plunger, at which stations the containers to be filled are positioned, a pair of delivery chutes disposed in a common horizontal plane below the uppermost position of said plungers, and spaced apart a distance less than that of said plungers, means for feeding material into either of said chutes, as desired, means for simultaneously shifting said chutes horizontally into two alternate positions in which one chute lies at a point beneath one plunger and over the associated container, so as to deliver into the latter, while the other chute is disposed laterally out of the path of movement of the other plunger, manually 0perated valves for controllin the supply of motive fluid to said hydraulic presses, and means connected with each chute for locking the corresponding valve against movement so long as such chute is positioned beneaththe plunger of the press which that valve controls.

13. Apparatus for filling containers with loose compressible material comprising a vertically operating press plunger supported at an elevated point and adapted to compress material in a container positioned directly beneath it, a delivery chute disposed below the uppermost position of said plunger, means for feeding material into said chute, means for shifting said chute horizontally into two alternate positions, in one of which the chute lies at a point beneath said plunger and over the container, so as to deliver into the latter, and in the other of which itis disposed laterally out of the path of movement of said plunger, so that the latter may-descend to compress the material, means for controlling the supply of power to said plunger to move it downwardly, and means for preventing said plunger from operating while the chute is positioned beneath it, said means including a member movable with said chute, and interlocking means between said member and said power controlling means.

14. Apparatus for filling containers with loose, compressible material, comprising a pair of horizontally spaced, vertically operating press plungers supported at an elevated point and each adapted to compress material in a container positioned directly beneath it, a pair of delivery chutes disposed in a horizontal plane below said plungers when in their uppermost position, and spaced apart a distance less than that of said plungers, means for simultaneously shifting said chutes horizontally into two alternate positions in which one chute lies at a point beneath one plunger and over the associated container, so as to deliver into the latter, while the other chute is disposed laterally out of the path of movement of the other plunger, so that the latter may descend, and means for controlling the supply or power to each plunger to move it downwardly, a member movable with each chute, and interlocking means between each member and the associated power controllin means for preventing each plunger from moving downwardly while the corresponding chute is positioned beneath it.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 796,611 Smith Aug. 8, 1905 1,700,494 Harrington Jan. 29, 1929 2,619,272 Boehling Nov. 25, 1952 2,646,013 Haas July 21, 1953 

